About the A flat six chord
A flat six is used in F Dorian, where its notes spell the i chord. Think of it as an A♭ major sixth chord.
Its notes are A♭, C, E♭, and F. The intervals are a major third, a perfect fifth, and a major sixth.
Also called maj6 and M6. G sharp six spells the same notes enharmonically.
Positions
Notes and intervals
| 1 | AbA♭ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | CC | Major 3rd |
| 3 | EbE♭ | Perfect 5th |
| 4 | FF | Major 6th |
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Keys that use A flat six
A flat six is diatonic to these keys, where its notes spell the chord shown.
Other A flat chords
Simpler triads
Suspended
Sixths and sevenths
Extensions
Altered
Functional relationships
These chords are where this one most naturally comes from and resolves to inside a key.
Relative minor
The relative minor uses the same notes and key signature, so it works as a calmer, darker home base.
Parallel minor
The parallel minor keeps the same root note but lowers the third, giving the same key a darker, sadder sound.
Dominant
The dominant is a fifth above the root, and it builds tension that pulls strongly back to this chord.
Subdominant
The subdominant is a fourth above the root (a fifth below), and it usually leads on to the dominant or back home.
Tritone substitution
The tritone substitution stands in for this chord's dominant with a dominant seventh a half step above the root, which slides down by a half step to resolve here.
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